Life With a Green Couch

Summer Delights

2011-07-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

Strawberry Cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting.

Let's just say, they lived a short life.

Click here for the cupcake recipe

and see this book of treasures for the to die for cream cheese frosting.

Happy day,

I&J

Sun & Swimming

2011-07-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

The weather here has been gorgeous lately. In order to celebrate the beautiful weather we took a big bike ride out along the provo river trail to Utah Lake. After riding in the scorching heat, even the mucky lake was irresistible.

Johnny, kindly enough, volunteered to jump off the bridge first.

Stalling.

Success.

Here's to sunny days,

I&J

Oh green couch...how we missed you.

2011-07-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

During our two months of traveling the green couch had a little adventure of its own with a temporary owner. That's right, we left our green couch with the woman who moved into our old place. No worries, she kept very good care of it and as soon as we were back it was settled into our new home.

Not without the usual exhausting process, however. Yes, you guessed it--we sawed off the legs and shoved that baby through the window again.

Johnny proved to be the most effective measuring device out there in seeing whether the green couch could fit through our door.

After removing the front door from its hinges and a little bit of couch shimmying, we finally got it inside, without going through the window might I add.

The legs are glued, the couch is sturdy, and we love it maybe even more than we did before. They do say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

We sure hope that you find something you love so much that you'd saw off its legs...

I&J

Growing up may be over rated...but birthdays aren't!

2011-07-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

The other day I came home from work to find Isabel all dressed up with a white balloon and a rose for me. When I walked inside I found a spotless house, and a huge sign in our bedroom with a list of everything she loves about me.

Even though I'm positive my birthday was more than a month ago, it didn't take much for her to convince me that we needed to celebrate immediately.

She then took me out to Lunch and treated me like a king for the day.

These multiple birthdays are something I could get used to.

Until my 3rd, 23rd birthday,

Shut Your Pie Hole...

2011-07-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Johnny and I really should be shutting our pie holes...considering there was an entire pie in our kitchen a few days ago...and it has been quickly decreasing in size...we may have invented a new meal called "post breakfast dessert"...the perfect start to any day.

Our pie was Marion Berry and we used this (click here) recipe for the crust. It was delicious, and has tasted even better the second...and third...and fourth day after.

We'll let you know if the same goes for tomorrow morning,

I&J

Working for Happy Days

2011-07-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was fortunate enough to receive a visit from the hormone fairy at age 12 life has been a mixture of the ups and the downs.

Something I figured out pretty early was, even if you're having a bad day, if someone who is not personally connected to you asks how your day is going, say "good."

For some reason within our society, the fact that for some individuals good days don't come automatically, has become a topic that is danced around.

As you may have already guessed, I am someone who has to work for those happy days. I don't consider myself unfortunate, or plagued by this reality in any way as I once did--it is now just a mere fact which I must constantly remember and take into consideration throughout each day.

If you are like me, here are a few things which I have tried. Some worked, some didn't. Some may even work better for you than they did me. Either way--they are steps towards happiness, and you can't go wrong with happiness right?

#1 Exercise

For some of you exercise may be on the same caliber of getting a tooth pulled and I get that. On the down days it seems like the least appealing option. I am fully aware though that as long as I am in a regular exercise routine, I will have better days, and happier relationships. If you are feeling down, the key is small steps, such as walking, jogging, or doing a few sit ups and crunches. It is more about establishing a habit of exercising than having one or two days when you run faster, further, or harder than you ever have.

St. John's Wort is an all natural supplement and is commonly used to treat symptoms of depression. Johnny and I took this supplement for 2 months when we were first married. What I can say about it is, we felt a difference. We are not sure whether the difference was due to the assistance of this product or to other circumstances changing, but we considered it well worth our time and money.

Vitamins! There is nothing more depressing than getting sick and behind schedule. We make sure to take one multi-vitamin a day. During the winter months we combine that with Vitamin C&D. That may seem like overloading it, but we'd rather have more nutrients than less. Studies have shown that there is some correlation among Vitamin D levels and depression. Seeing as those who receive less sun light [and therefore less vitamin D] typically show symptoms of depression, this would make sense. Since Johnny and I live in Utah, and the winters are harsh--we always make sure to have Vitamin D in stock.

There is nothing better than having some brain candy on hand. For those nights that I can't sleep, or those days that I feel the urge to just be lazy books allow me to do just that. Now, obviously T.V. and movies do as well--but to avoid that coma that we all end up in after hours of staring at a screen [admit it, you know what I'm talking about], books seem to be the better option to relax while still keeping your brain active.

A balanced diet. How many times have we heard that one? Well, it works. Johnny and I have ourselves on a "no meat at home" diet and it is amazing how much more energy I have on the days when we don't go out to a restaurant and gorge ourselves with whatever carnivorous options there are. Rather than be one of those people who tries to sit here and convince you of a particular lifestyle--feel free to ask me more about how or why we do this. This really is key though, just follow that pyramid & you will notice the difference. [make sure to allow for guilty pleasure every so often...you know we do!]

What do you do to pick yourself up on your off days? I'd love hear your suggestions.

Heres to Happy Days,

I&J

Happy...late...Birthday/Father's day Joe Coleman!

2011-07-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Now before you think I completely forgot my Dad's birthday OR father's day, that is not the case!

I was in Europe for the latter and it has simply taken me this long to get back into the blogging mode.

The relationship that I have with my dad is a unique one. Ever since I was a little girl I have been a "daddy's girl." My mom tells stories of me only letting my dad hold me, while they seem exaggerated, they go to show how innate my love for my dad is and was. There are many things that I have learned from my Dad, and I will go into detail of those. However, I think the most important thing that I have gained from my dad is what he has offered me. Whether in his words, actions, or simple presence, he has provided me with a clear understanding of what makes a good father, what to expect of a good father, and how to marry a man who will be a good father.

In our faith, we believe that the patriarch of a home has the responsibility to Protect, Provide, and Preside. Upon reflecting on childhood memories, I recognize that my dad has fulfilled each of these responsibilities. He has always been invested in his four girls. My dad has been in the United States Navy for about 28 years. He has worked harder than I have ever seen any other man work. There has never been a time in my life, where I have had to fear financial instability within my family. That does not mean by parent's did not have to budget, or penny pinch, but even in their less fortunate times, my dad made sure that money was saved, that college was priority, and that we were all clothed, sheltered, and fed. There is a level of security that can only be reached when I am around my dad. I feel this sense of safety and relief when he is at my side. My dad has a very controlled and composed disposition when difficult or scary things occur. He has always exhibited that it is his primary goal to protect my mom, my sisters, and I. In presiding for my family, my dad always offered blessings to us girls prior to the start of school. It wasn't until I was actually away at college that I realized how much I value these. Just before I was married, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and confused. The decision to be with one person for forever, was nearly too much for me to handle. A few nights before, my dad pulled me aside and expressed his own spiritual/fatherly impression that I was marrying the best person for me. The trust that I have in my dad's ability to preside is what carried me through that evening, and helped me to move forward with faith and confidence in my decision.

My dad always provided us with a sense of adventure. For years he drove this sea foam green bug pictured above. He would pile each of us girls in and cruise around. One specific memory I have is of my dad waking up the three of us in the middle of the night. He must have carried us into the car, and driven us down the road, because the next thing I remember is him waking us up to show us the bear that had been caught in a trap in the middle of the night. No matter how outrageous it seemed, my dad was sure to make sure that we didn't miss out on the action. There were many camping trips, hikes, and exercise routines over the years. One trip I remember was canoeing to a camp site, when a crazy hail storm it. The hail was the size of golf balls. I remember feeling completely frightened as my dad guided each of us to where we should be for protection. Looking back, it is one of those memories that high lights my dad's wildest moments. It did not matter if hail was falling, if lighting was striking, or thunder roaring--my dad made sure that we were all a part of the adventure.

As I communicated earlier, my relationship with my dad is unique. As embarrassing as this is, I actually wanted to marry him as a little girl. Clearly I did not understand how a family works, or how a family is made. As I lined up the attributes I wanted in a spouse however, many of my dad's own attributes were on that list. He set the bar for what I should seek in a provider. He helped me to understand through his actions towards my mother, how I should expect to be treated. In his fun, and flirtatious ways with my mom he showed me that fun and friendship are possibilities in marriage. My dad was always open with me when I was going through a difficult time. If he felt that his experiences could enlighten my understanding of what to do, or how to cope, he would share without hesitation. I remember one particular drive down to Portland with him, when he shared with me and advised me about my dating life. He made sure to explain how important it was that I never settled for anything less than my ideal.

My dad has always made it clear that we are never too old enough to sit on his lap. We take full advantage of this. I don't think he realized however, how much this means to us. My dad was always affectionate towards us, and willing to let us cuddle up. We never had to work for his affection, it was given to us freely and unconditionally. Since I have been married, the concept that I am never too old enough to sit on his lap translates into meaning that I will always be his little girl. The love that I have felt from my dad in these precious moments, has carried me through many difficult childhood, teenage, and adult moments. He has served as a comforter, one that will never be matched. It is a beautiful to know that the super hero father you grow up with, no matter how human he actually is, will always strive to be that same super hero you leaned on.

My dad gave me a love for exercise. He was always there to encourage us at sports events, and to help us get into better physical shape. As self conscious girls, this was very important. I remember as a little girl, trying to impress him by doing sets of several sit ups. He always made sure that I knew I was capable of succeeding in whichever sport I chose to pursue (even if this wasn't true, it was very kind). He would set up the most intense routines when I was feeling down and needed some extra endorphines (okay...and maybe to lose a few pounds), we would swim, bike, and run. I remember one particular run where I felt like I had no energy left, he looked at me and told me I could do it, that I had it in me. His encouragement was enough to get me to the end. I felt so proud of myself. I am so grateful to his constant encouragement. Physical fitness has become one of the most important things in my life, and I have my dad to thank for that.

I have a collection of voicemails saved from my dad. One thing each of them have in common is that he is telling me how proud he is. One of my favorites goes like this.. "Hey iz...you know, I am sorry that I am so tired. I just realized that you told me about your exam and I hardly gave you a reaction. I am so proud of you. That is amazing, and you are amazing, and I love you. I'll call you soon. Bye." You may be wondering why this would be the favorite, the one where he forgot momentarily. But what I love about this message, is that he remembered on his own to congratulate me, and was willing to admit he had made a mistake. Even in his most exhausted moments, my dad has never failed to congratulate me on my accomplishments. He has always kept tabs on my schooling, my exercise, my jobs, and my friendships. When it came time for me to get married, I felt desperate for his approval of Johnny. I feared that since Johnny wasn't the sports watching type, or an exact replica of my dad, that my dad would disapprove. It was one of the most peaceful moments that I have yet to experience when my dad sat me down and told me how happy he was for me. He said to my mom, "either this is too good to be true, or we have hit the jackpot." My dad told me that he would love any man I married as long as the man treated me with respect, was hardworking, and smart. I am absolutely positive that it is very much thanks to my father that I was able to find such fitting companion for myself.

As I write these things down, I feel overcome with love and appreciation for the presence of my dad in my life. I recognize how truly blessed I am to have such a supportive father. Its because of memories like these that I hold so tightly to being his little girl.

Happy---everything I missed & more dad!

Happy Birthday Evalyn Coleman!

2011-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Many of you who read my blog know my mom well.

Those of you who don't should get to know her.

Today is her birthday, and therefore an additional reason to celebrate her and her countless positive attributes.

As a teenager, I spent far too much energy pushing my mom away, and not even nearly enough focusing in on her and learning as much as I could about being an incredibly strong and capable woman. Since then, I find myself taking on many of the characteristics I spot in her, calling her frequently to seek advice, a recipe, or just a supportive voice on the other end, and probably most often, looking to her for approval in nearly every single one of my daily tasks.

Our conversations usually start with...

"Mom...what was that one recipe...(you know that one that I refused to make with you several times while living at home)...I'd really like to have that."

"Mom...I have no idea what to do..." often, by the time I've expressed this she has already thrown out the most perfect answer before I can even ask the question. How do those mother's do it?

"So today I cleaned this...and took this exam...and cooked this..." and before I can even pause long enough to realize that all I'm doing is seeking praise, she has bombarded me with how proud she is, how much she loves me, and how excited she is for me.

So, to my best friend and mom, I'd like to make a tribute, and further explain the many things she has taught me.

From a very young age, my mom engrained within me a love for music. I think my sisters would agree that there is no feeling quite as comforting as that which we feel when she sits at our piano at home and sings. She would gather us around as little girls and even now, teaching us harmonies, and motioning towards us anytime a page needed to be turned or part needed to be sung. There was hardly a silent moment in our house or cars. Whether it was saturday chores, or a trip to the store, music was blasting---a fact that I think is to blame for my inability to hear anything under the highest volume.

As music was a big part of my mom's childhood, it was a means for her to develop family unity within our home. Family is my mom's lifeline. Whether it is a phone call to her siblings, bonnie, or a date with my dad, she prioritizes family at the top of her list. I remember countless "I love you's" shared during my childhood, expressed with tears in her eyes and the tightest squeeze possible. I never doubted for a second that my mom felt something real -- one could even describe it as divine. When my mom conveyed her love to me in this way, I couldn't help but feel it resonate within me. My mom has been a mother to many, in offering advice, a place to stay, and that deep love. She is fiercely loyal to family, and has passed that on to each of us girls. Even when the three of us did not get along, there was an unspoken understanding that, we would have each other's backs in kicking a bully's butt if he picked on one of the Coleman girls. Now as I begin my own family, I have a clear understanding of what is most important.

My mom always taught us the importance of being confident in the way we look. She taught us that confidence is the most sexy attribute. She taught us that hair always grows back and that it is one of the best ways to express oneself (a way to deter us from piercings and tattoos, I suspect.) I can thank my mom for many of my best & worst hair phases. My mom is the best personal shopper I have ever seen--tv shows included, What Not to Wear has to idea what kind of competition they've got! She taught us how to apply make up in a natural way, how to shave our legs, how to dress in a way that was modest but still fashionable. These all may seem like superficial things unless you have ever been a teenage girl. My mom saved us from the confusion of being a preteen--by teaching us these things she helped us pass through a period of gangly awkwardness still feeling happy to be ourselves. She always encouraged my confidence in telling me how beautiful I was, every chance she got. She could sense when we were feeling down on ourselves and would quickly remedy it with words of encouragement or some well needed shopping therapy.

From my mom, I have adopted a deep rooted excitement and enthusiasm for the holidays. Every holiday was celebrated in a brilliant manner. Thanksgiving entailed a morning football game, early appetizers, a massive meal, and hours of every single person expressing their gratitude. That evening set off our Christmas experience, with the family gathering around the piano to sing carols. Soon after, it was time to get a tree, and spend the evening decorating it, while being spoiled with cocoa and christmas songs in the background. We'd often do an act of service for a family in need leading up to Christmas, and then Christmas eve my mom would invite anyone she could think of to act out the nativity scene and eat loads of christmas treats. Once all of the guests headed home, we would read our family christmas story, open a present [always our brand new pajamas] and go to bed. It was always made clear that these holidays had more important aspects than food and presents. My mom would always passionately convey the true meaning of Christmas, something my sister's and I now feel equally passionate about. As I reflect on these holidays, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the efforts that my mom put towards us having christmas', thanksgivings, valentines days and easters to remember. I know that these memories are something I will hold dear throughout my entire life, and an ideal that I will try to emulate each year with my own family.

Probably one of the most important things my mom has ever taught me, or my sisters, is to educate ourselves. My mom is an avid reader. As I think back to many of our family vacations over the years, I have an image my my mom cuddled up with a book, completely engrossed in its contents. This is something we would tease her for, begging her to just put it down and play for a bit. It was not until later that I understood reading is just as fun as playing. Any time that I could not sleep, or I was feeling ill, or having a difficult break up of some sorts, my mom would come to by bedside with four or five books. She would read the first couple pages of each of them until one sparked my interest, and then she would encourage me to dive in. After the completion of a book, she would strike up a conversation about it, further conveying the fun of reading. Books have since been a frequent topic of conversation, and a medium through which my mom and I have bonded. She is one of the most well educated women I know, and I as well as she attribute so much of that to reading. She reads a heavy non-fiction and after completing it, allows herself to read a fun and relaxing fiction. There is hardly a topic I could ask my mom about and not receive an answer that originated from one of her books. For all four of us girls, books are treasures, mediums through which to escape and learn, and full of memories held near and dear.

From singing to reading, there are so many things my mom has taught me that I am grateful for. The most important things however, is that my mom has been there to guide me, support me, and encourage me in all of my most important decisions. She was my cheerleader when I was accepted to BYU, helping me to see that this university would be the best thing for me, she was my rock during the more difficult times, and my go to person while I made the giant leap of getting married. She was always in tune to my needs, and to what would be best for me, and for that I am forever indebted to her. She continues to guide me along, in making my future the brightest it can be. I am sure that if I can continue to take on her characteristics, values, and passion for life, I will live the best life possible for myself.

Happy Birthday to you Mom. You are the cherished by so many.

To those of you who do know my mom...Please comment [on the blog please, not on Facebook, so that it can all be in one place] with a memory, or a short sentence expressing your love for her.

Until next time,

Back in Provo, Vacation is Over

2011-06-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a good last little bit. We finished our trip by spending time in Pittsburgh, Seattle and Portland.

We didn't go sight seeing or do any Couch Surfing, but we spent some well needed down time with family.

We are now back in Provo to move into a new house, start work and start a full load of school. It is going to be a busy few months but we feel like we have had our fun and it's time to focus in on serious stuff again. This does not mean that the fun is over. We have lots of camping and crafts planned for this summer. But for now we plan to stay put for a while.

Here we are in Pittsburgh:

After over a month of traveling, here are several things we learned about cheap, efficient traveling:

1. Plan way way ahead: We started this Europe planning two months before. Fact is, most people pay a billion dollars for tour guides and tour buses etc. When you don't have resources like that you need to plan quite a bit so as not to miss out.

2. Ryanair/EasyJet: If you are going to Europe you need to know about these low cost airlines. If you plan ahead you can get flights for super cheap (Dublin to Berlin 24 Euros!) What's the catch? Well there are several hoops you have to jump through to make it worth it. I'll leave it to you to look up the tricks to winning with Ryanair but basically you have to pack light, show up early and be willing to sit in not the most comfortable airplanes. Worth it!

3. Learn to eat local picnics. Restaurants were not really an option for us. Instead we bought bread, cheese, fruit etc from the market and just snacked on that all day. This is a way you can save a lot of money

4. Couchsurfing.org: This is a social network that allows travelers to connect with people all over who are willing to open up their home to you. Again you can check out the details with some research but basically you get a place to stay, sometimes a meal and usually a cool new friend and experience. We did this everywhere we didn't have a connection and ended up only paying for one night of accommodations during our month in Europe. Needless to say this is our number one money saver. Check it out, it's not as sketchy as it sounds

Those are our four little suggestions on getting around Europe when you're poor and ambitious. Good luck

Keep tuned in for our summer fun here in Provo,

I&J

Barcelona: Where everything went wrong and right at the same time

2011-06-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a wild two weeks and we are back to update everyone on how it's all been going.

We reluctantly left the beautiful city of Paris and headed towards Barcelona. Here we are in yet another train station.

We got into Barcelona very late on a Saturday night. We had to take a bus from the airport to the city and in the process we lost (or got stolen of) our little pouch that had all our money, credit cards etc. Big Problem! We walked to where we where staying, trying desperately not to explode at each other. It was 2am, we were tired, this wallet thing, and to top it off careless drunk Spaniards out partying on their Saturday night. It was a mess.

Luckily we were staying with a family we knew; they were very helpful and accommodating through out this whole thing.

Jaxon is currently living there so he showed us around. Barcelona is essentially a Hawaiian vacation with courser sand, bluer water, historic Spanish architecture and amazing food. Needless to say we loved it!

We would spend the days wandering the city and resting in the parks. We read our books and just relaxed.

We spent hours on the beach. Yes we burned. Well worth it? Yes!

The big deal in Spain is a dish called Paella. Rice, vegetables, seafood, chicken and whole bunch of spices.

To add to the drama we got up early the morning we were to fly out to Italy and confronted several complication that led us to missing our flight. Below is a photo of Izzy about to burst but if you look closely you can see that she kind of has that look of completely not caring anymore. We sat there wondering what we should do. Since it was quite early we ended up taking the day to explore La Costa Brava, a remote (ish) line of beaches right on the boarder of France and Spain.

By mid day we were celebrating the situation. Having missed that flight might have been the best thing we ever did. We found ourselves in Lloret De Mar, a great little town on the Mediterranean. Blue blue blue water and a hot sun and yes a little more sun burn.

What's more, a quaint castle fortress resides on the cliffs near the beach we were at.

The castle allowed us to walk on a path that followed the base of the castle but did not let us go up into the actual fortress. This would not do! Luckily our castle experiences in Wales gave the skills necessary to ignore the "stay out signs" and climb into the fortress.

This day ended up being one of our favorites. We stayed out exploring for a long time before returning to Barcelona to make adjustments to our trip seeing as Italy was now out of the picture.

Meanwhile, back in Barcelona, the Spanish had evidently caught wind of the revolution trend that is spreading across norther Africa. Thousands of young people positioned themselves in the downtown square, protesting the government for alleged corruption and no jobs. The irony of the situation was that while these protesters petitioned jobs, opportunists wove in and out of the crowd selling food and drinks, thus employing themselves on the dime of the furious unemployed.

Johnny Turned 23. We've decided that birthday cake is over rated so now we can chose what want to be our birthday treat. Johnny chose strawberry milkshakes.

That same night Barcelona won the European Soccer Championship. The streets exploded with fans. Unlike anything we have ever seen.

We flew back to London for our last 3 days of the trip. We took it easy, slept in and explored new parts of the city.

We went to a little village outside of London near Hamstead Heath. It was small townish and quite relaxing. We had one last picnic there.

Our last night there we went to a Fleet Foxes Concert.

And that's it. Our trip to Europe is over. It was a wild ride. We saw some amazing things and will never forget the people we met and the experiences we had. Now back to the USA for the last little bit of summer which includes, but is not limited to, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Portland and then back to Utah for the start of summer term and more summer fun. Leave us a comment, we always love hearing from you.

Sincerely,

I&J

Paris

2011-05-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

We took the 200 mph train (coolest invention ever) to Paris. The weather cooperated very well with us. Sunny days but not too hot. We spent our first day resting at the Eiffel tower. Honestly, the tower is cool, but we don't really understand how it became the biggest tourist icon in the world. Nevertheless the lawns in front of the Eiffel Tower provide a great place to rest.

Last semester we took a music history class and studied the music of Chopin. We were able to visit his grave. He is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. We consider this a 'must see' for anyone coming to Paris. The place is full of old beautiful graves and few tourists.

Back in downtown Paris we found ourselves to be just two of the billions of ravenous tourists, hungry to see everything. As fun as these places are, the amount of people jammed into the museums makes it a less pleasant experience. Nontheless we loved wandering around this old old place.

At the Palace of Versailles we found ourselves smashed up against huge group of mainly over-zealous Chinese folks with expensive cameras. We marveled at the sight of people crawling over each other taking photos of paintings. Yes I know, everyone does it..But why? Why would you compete with one thousand other people who all fight for the space in front of the Mona Lisa just to get a photo of the painting when google image carries a high resolution scan of the same painting? After discovering this silly tendency we put the camera away and giggled at the countless photo zealots that roam the halls of these museum.

Versailles--in our opinion--was too built up and while splendid and grand, nightmarish queues made the experience good but not great.

We loved Notre Dame more on the outside than the inside. This masterpiece is not only a breathtaking illustration of Gothic architecture, but also a romantic building. We spent hours just walking around it.

Our favorite visit was Sainte Chapelle. Again, a place with little tourists. But beyond that, Sainte Chapelle has a very solemn and reverent air about it. The stained glass walls let the light seep in with magnificent color and tone. Another must see!

On top of the Arc de Triomphe, we caught the sunset. Paris from above is easily the most beautiful city we have ever seen. After a long day of museums and monuments we got to relax and take in this amazing view.

One night we went around and gathered cheeses, meats, bread, etc for a nice picnic. We've found that gathering ingredients at various shops and markets is not only extremely fun, but affordable as well. After purchasing enough to stuff ourselves, we continued on our way to the Eiffel Tower.

Here's us at our 600th boulangerie (bakery) picking up supplies.

We perched ourselves on the lawn in front of the Eiffel tower for several hours just talking and wondering if life gets any better.

Stop 601 at the boulangerie

Almost done with Europe,

I&J

Brussels

2011-05-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

After a little break we have returned to the blog world to update everyone on how it's going over here across the pond.

We made our way to Brussels and wasted no time making it to the chocolate factory. At the chocolate factory they let you sample everything you want. Best part, the samples are full size pieces of chocolate. It's great for the first few pieces, then it get a little overwhelming. The thing about Belgian chocolate is that it extremely heavy and rich. We spent some time carefully choosing which chocolate to partake, lest we overdose. It turned out well. We bought two boxes.

We then made our way to what they call the "junk market". We found that what Belgians call junk is actually great stuff. We found all sorts of antiques. We spent hours there rummaging around through the "junk" and bartering down the Flemish sellers from their ridiculous prices.

Later, we ate a "machine gun", one of Belgium's best creations. It's basically spicy sausage, lettuce, wild and spicy sauce, topped with fries and all inside a baguette. So Good.

To add on more calories we couldn't help throwing down a warm waffle covered in Nutella, cream and banana. The fact is Belgian waffles are actually way better in Belgium. We didn't regret it for a second.

At the end of our Brussels trip we found a gigantic horn...no joke, a huge horn in the middle of city, free for all to come and announce what they please. We spent quite a while yelling into it. What is this thing for? there was no explanation, no reasoning, just a giant horn.

We loved the food, people and sites in Brussels and now we are ready for Paris.

See you soon,

I&J

Berlin

2011-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

We flew from Dublin to Berlin. We were immediately struck by the different feel of eastern Europe. Berlin is once again, another big city. Good parks, cool buildings, interesting culture etc. We felt quite exhausted and ended up plopping down in the downtown park and napping for several hours until we felt rested and ready to explore.

We then visited the Holocaust memorial. This is where Hitler killed himself and the whole memorial is a very impressive and emotional tribute to those who suffered. The memorial consists of thousands of cement blocks that create little passage ways. There's also a museum underground which displays a very reverent exhibit of photos, letters and stories from the holocaust

Later, at the Sony Center, Izzy found herself trying all types headphones.

She ended up decided on a nice white pair.

We then headed down to what used to be the Berlin Wall. There's a certain part called the the East Side Gallery where artists have covered it with street art. We walked along it for an afternoon, the art was absolutely fantastic. We ended up laying in the grass in what used to be Eastern Germany and napping for another hour.

Curry wurst is a big deal in Berlin. The tourist shops sell the Wurst in a bun like an American hot dog, but we hear the more traditional way to eat it is bread separate and Wurst chopped up with curry on top. Johnny loved it, Izzy called it "curry worst."

Another surprise was that the vegetarian Chinese food is actually quite good in Berlin.

Did we mention Izzy got really sweet headphones?

Stay Tuned In,

I&J

Wales and Dublin

2011-05-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

We continued the adventure, escaping the hustle and bustle of London and venturing into the mystical region of Wales. Our trip consisted of a lot of castles, flocks of sheep, and extremely kind people talking our ears off about the royal wedding.

Stop one was Chirk, the border between England and Wales. There´s an aqueduct that runs over valleys and through long tunnels. The views were beyond anything we had ever seen.

We then made our way to Llangollen (prounounced ´thlann-gothlan´) where we hiked up a steep hill to the ruins of Dinas Bran, a very old fortress of sorts.

We couldn´t help but leave our little mark on the hill.

The Welsh language only added to the mysticism of the experience, thank goodness for the english translations.

We ended our castle tour in the Snowdonia where, at the foot of the UK´s tallest peak we spent the rainy afternoon by ourselves in Dolbadarn Castle. Since we were alone we were able to climb around into hidden passages that had been blocked off, after this adventure, this castle was established as our favorite place.

While there, we stayed in Conwy with some Couchsurfers, Laura and Mike. We could not have felt more welcome (or secure seeing as their backyard litterally wall of the castle pictured below).

We then flew off to Dublin. The city didn´t strike us as very exciting. The old buildings and streets were interesting but after a bit of that we decided to plant ourselves in a park to hang out for the rest of the day.

Izzy found what could very well be her long lost cousins tourist shop in the city center (She still likes to think that the Colemans would do something better than duping tourists into paying too much for souvenirs from ireland).

After the short time we were there we felt ready to move on. The city was fun but we have a lot more to see. So we´re off to Berlin!

Until then,

I&J

London

2011-05-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

We spent one last half day in NYC. We loved the Brooklyn bridge! The president was in town so needless to say it was a security fest all over.

Then we took an over night flight to London. Izzy almost didn't make it on because we had booked her ticket with the last name of Coleman when her new passport says Harris. We got on only after sweet talking an airline supervisor and waiting an hour. It was all worth the trouble, though, when we arrived to the lovely markets.

This market had ostrage eggs and kangaroo burngers niether of which we had the gumption to try.

Any city is more enjoyable bikes.

Keep Until Wales

I&J

New York City

2011-05-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Johnny and I arrived in New York yesterday evening. We hopped on the bus, transferred to a subway, and arrived to Eric's place [the couch surfer we're staying with]. He lives in lower Manhattan and has an awesome place. We went to eat pizza & crepes in Washington Square Park and then came back to crash and recharge for today.

Today we walked all over the city. We went to see ground zero and the construction of the Freedom Buildings. There were news reporters ALL over talking about the recent news regarding Bin Laden. The President will be here tomorrow to speak on the subject of 9/11.

We then continued to the Financial District and watched all of the important business men as they hurried by, engrossed in their blackberries, clearly without a minute to spare.

We headed up to Time Square and looked around the shops, I even held the world's largest Hersheys bar--it was not easy to leave such a heaven-sent behind.

After attempting to find reasonably priced tickets to a Broadway show, we gave up just in time for an all too stereotypical New York scalper to offer us tickets to Wicked for $40 bucks a piece. Skeptical Johnny told the guy we think he's ripping us off. The man then pulled out a huge wad of 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills. He then shouldered up against us and thumbed through his cash claiming that he has enough money, 'why would he need to rip us off?' Although this little demonstration convinced us less of this guy's validity, the fact remains, Izzy knows every word of Wicked the Musical but had never seen the play. so we couldn't pass this up. We had our new scalper friend come with us to the entrance to make sure we weren't getting ripped off, payed him, and happily walked in to witness the best show we had ever seen.

After the show we walked for hours around Central Park. There is no way to describe the feeling of escaping the city within a matter of minutes and finding ourselves absolutely surrounded by natural beauty. It was wonderful.

Wish us safe travels to London tomorrow,

I&J

Venice Beach

2011-05-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

We spent a total of 9 hours roaming around venice beach and laying out in the sun. We shopped, ate, and gawked at the crazy things people were doing to earn a dollar.

We made a stop at Muscle Beach, and played for a bit. Here are a few of our tricks:

Jaxon:

Isabel:

Johnny:

Then we [accidentally] fell asleep in the sun for 1 hour & 40 minutes. We woke up scorched by the sun, with all sorts of funky tan lines.

We left the beach in search of Baby Blues BBQ, a restaurant featured on the Food Network.

We ate our hearts out & returned to LA to take ice cold showers and cover ourselves in Aloe.

Happy day,

I&J

San Diego

2011-05-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

Our initial reasoning for going to California was to visit Johnny's grandparents. I had never met them, and it had been quite a while since Johnny had seen them so it was due time for a visit. We had a lovely lunch at a little diner and chatted for hours about the "good old days." They shared their wisdom with us and we soaked it up. These individuals have been a large part of who Johnny is today, so I could not thank them enough for their hand in that.

We later went to visit Johnny's aunt, uncle, and cousins in San Diego.

It was an absolute dream.

We finished the night off with hot tubbing and delicious fish tacos.

Yours truly,

I&J

Las Vegas

2011-04-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Vegas was a first for both of us, so it was a wild experience. We strolled around the casinos observing the people and marveling at the site of so much money being thrown around, and the man made 'beauty; all around us. Though amazing, Vegas cannot compare to the natural beauty we observed in Zion.

Our friend Alex Vaughn was sweet enough to let us stay at her home. They're place was a fairytale, as was their dog.

Until Next time,

I&J

Our Big Journey

2011-04-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Adventure Has begun. Please follow us as we travel across the US and then into Europe.

Here's the list of our destinations:

1. Zion

2. Las Vegas

3. L.A

4. San Diego

5. New York

6. London

7. Wales

8. Ireland

9. Berlin

10. Brussels

11. Paris

12. Barcelona

13. Rome

14. Cinque Terre (Italy)

15. South of France

16. Back to London

17. Pittsburgh

18. Seattle

19. Portland

20. Back to SLC

It's going to be quite the summer! If you want to see some sweet places and get some tips on super cheap travel stay tune.

Now for stop one:

Zion National Park:

This place is spectacular. We had no idea what we had been missing. While Utah is full of great national parks, Zion has some of the most dramatic cliffs and terrain we have ever seen. Take a look at our two days there.

Day one we did the Kayenta Trail.

Along that same trail we found the Emerald pools.

Later that night I (Johnny) burned my 10 year old North Face backpack. It was given to me by my sister a long time ago and I've used it to travel all over the place. It finally broke and I decided to burn it as a tribute to its long life.

The next day we went to Angel's Landing. It was beyond brilliant, the hike takes you on a series of switch backs up the mountain, a few which you have to hold to a chain in order to climb up.

As we descended we had to wait 45 min for trail maintenance. This was a perfect opportunity to get some sun thousands of feet in the air...on the edge of a cliff. Not so safe, but oh so wonderful.

Below gives you an idea of what kind of terrain we were hiking (more like climbing) up.

Next up, Vegas.

I&J

Soap & Sap

2011-04-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! We have been enjoying these last few days without finals or classes so much. I have been packing away for our big travels and completing a few "to resume later when I have time" crafts. I have been pondering my childhood memories of Easter and what an incredible job my parents did. They always made it an exciting time full of treats, family time, scavenger hunts, egg dying, and the message of the season. I have missed that dearly, but our first Easter together has been a great one.

I decided that since I am going to spend this evening with my sister, I should make her a small Easter gift. I couldn't resist these soap dispenser mason jars, and I don't think she will be able to either.

Now there is the soap, onto the sap. Johnny and I both agree that no one wants to read about our mushy behind the scenes happenings but sometimes, I can't help but share.

Yesterday my friend Ali and I went out to get pedicures and go shopping--I felt totally spoiled.

I returned home only to find the entire house clean, vacuumed, swept, wiped down, the whole deal! In addition, a Thai shrimp stir fry with brown rice was waiting for me [home made].

In all honesty, every day isn't roses and butterflies, but yesterday was one of those days that makes me realize marrying him was the best decision of my life.

On a lighter note, I am going to make this tonight:

Roasted yams & green beans

Well, seeing as we tied on the Pogo music competition,

we've got a rap to write,

I&J

Easter Nest Cookies

2011-04-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

This will be our very first Easter together and we have been trying to make sure we make it a memorable one. We have been reading about each of the days of Holy Week and eating Cadbury Eggs nonstop for days.

I got this recipe from one of my favorite women/bakers of all time. Her name is Valerie Johnson. She baked cookies for my "cookies & milk" wedding reception and has coined the term "happies" for her wonderfully packaged treats which put a smile on anybody's face! How cute is that? So I made a good 50 cookies yesterday, and we've been smiling ever since.

Our suggestion: Package some of these cookies & anonymously drop them off on someones doorstep who has made this a more meaningful Easter season for you.

We chose to treat a neighbor who had inspired us with honest words.

Below is a little snippet of our experience.

Enjoy your weekends,

I&J

Shelves made of Books

2011-04-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

As you will continue to notice, I have a very deep relationship with books, some may even call it an obsession. I love reading them, holding them, posing with them, smelling them, decorating with them, recommending them, discussing them, and getting totally lost in the world of them. Hence why I decided to learn how to make shelves out of books!

Steps:

#1 I had to go to the hardware store & purchase the appropriate hardware. [screws & metal shelf brackets] I also had to invest in a power drill, I chose this one:

It was only $59 and seriously works great.

#2 Pick out three [or as many as you'd prefer] books with covers that please you. It would be best to select a book that is not a classic, read often, or of great value. I suggest the readers digest condensed books.

#3 Spray paint the brackets [Again, if you'd prefer, I think it looks great either way.]

#4 Drill holes into the book where the brackets will be attached, & then screw on the brackets.

#5 Mount on the wall [we're in between houses, so I just took a picture as if they were mounted on a wall] & decorate with your favorite light weight knick knacks.

And there you have it. Let me know what you think about this idea, I know I have a unique taste in home decor, an example being our famous green couch, but it is interesting to hear from the perspectives of others.

Thanks for tuning in!

I&J

Sunflower Market

2011-04-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Sunflower Market in Orem (to see other locations, click here.)

Lucky for us, Wednesday is the day they put out all the sales from both the previous and upcoming week. DOUBLE SALES! Also Thursdays they give 20% off to Students with valid ID.

We like the place because it's a little taste of the Northwest environment we grew up in and sorely miss.

It's really quite a find for anyone looking for local, organic, or bulk items.

Go check it out!

We had to make an exception to our strictly in-the-home-vegetarian lifestyle for these crazy deals.

We left excited for a week of branching out with new recipes and delicious ingredients...even though it was 10 pm, we couldn't resist a little (kind of big) snack.

Shop away,

I&J

Sweet Tooth Fairy

2011-04-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

Since we've always been spoiled by great bakers, we have a hard time feeling satisfied at most dessert shops. Sweet Tooth Fairy is the exception. Have you ever had a cupcake where the cake was great, but the frosting was terrible, or vis versa? Here you get the best of both worlds, and when I say the best, I mean it. It may seem like we're abusing the word "best" lately, but just trust us. We've searched long and hard for tasty eats & this is definitely one.

Though located over the bridge in South Provo, this place is worth the drive, or bike ride in our case. [No worries other Utahans, Sweet Tooth Fairy is also located in SLC, Draper, St. George, Layton, & Midvale]

[Lemon, Strawberry Shortcake, & German Chocolate]

I don't know about you, but $2.35 seems a bit steep for a cupcake--it is totally worth that and more.

Treat yourselves,

I&J